Four Friends

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Daniel 1:3-7

Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

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They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other

"Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash from "CSN" (1969)

Four men, four friends. They were among the men who were sent to Babylon during the exile. They knew their nation was subdued. They didn't know if they would ever see home again. By the end of this passage they didn't even have their own names anymore. All they knew is they had their Lord and they had one another.

They were brought into the compound of King Nebuchadnezzar to share their knowledge and insight. First though, they were trained, we might call it indoctrinated, into the ways of the Chaldeans. They were taught their language and literature. This taught them how to think like their captors. This took three years, three years of being some of the best kept captives in Babylon.

Never forget, the best kept captive is still a captive.

In their exile, in their captivity, they could have tried to live "every man for himself." but they didn't they were four together. Together they kept the faith even in the house of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that couldn't have been easy. The Book of Daniel will eventually show this was not easy. Yet, through their faith in the Lord and their friendship, they persevered together. This is the hallmark of community, this is the mark of a Godly enclave.